Winston's Wish
@winstonswish
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UK's first childhood bereavement charity. We provide support to children, young people (up to 25) and families when someone dies. ☎️ Helpline: 08088 020 021
UK
Joined July 2009
Powerful documentary on @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer showing the devastating impact the death of a parent can have on a child and how important it is for grieving children to get support. ❤. Thanks for sharing your story @JoeyEssex_ #GriefAndMe.
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We’re delighted to announce @GaryScribbler as our new Ambassador! Through his #doodleaday, he has been documenting family life since his wife Joy died in 2017 and has drawn a special Doodle for us this #FathersDay. You can find out more here 👉
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Bereaved children tell us they want people to acknowledge what has happened. So please include them when you reach out to grieving families as part of the National #DayofReflection on Tuesday. Write a note or card just for them or a text. It will mean a lot to them.
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@EpsomCollegeUK We're so sorry to hear this devastating news. We're a childhood bereavement charity and if you need any guidance on supporting your pupils, please do get in touch. Our Helpline is open until 8pm tonight - 08088 020 021 or email ask@winstonswish.org.
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A lovely resource for bereaved children and young people whose family member worked on the frontline that we were pleased to be involved with and thanks to #PrinceHarry for writing a heartfelt foreword.
Hospital by the hill is a book we’ve created which tells the story of a young person and the loss of their mother, who had been working on the front line. We are providing these books for free to any child or young person in the UK affected in this way. Link in bio.
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Day 24 of our alternative advent calendar is a beautifully illustrated message from our ambassador @GaryScribbler. We might not be able to spend Christmas with the people we want to this year but don't forget to reach out and tell someone you love them ❤️ #Christmas2020
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The death of a prominent figure, like the Queen, can significantly affect children. This could be their first experience of death and they don’t really understand or if they have been bereaved it might bring up difficult feelings. 👉
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‘When a baby is born, you can’t move for professional advice. But when someone dies, you’re on your own.’ We're at @HouseofCommons with Life Matters task force, which quotes @rioferdy5 for #ChildrensGriefAwarenessWeek #BereavementSupport #SupportLifeMatters
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Grief doesn’t go away, it doesn’t grow smaller – instead we grow around our grief. To begin with, grief feels as if it takes up all of us but, in time, we have space for other feelings and experiences. Our grief hasn’t shrunk but we have grown around it.
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One child in every classroom is bereaved. This September, we're launching a very special campaign asking our supporters to go ‘back-to school’ for grieving children by taking part in this month’s fun fundraisers. For more information 👉
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One in five children don’t get bereavement benefits when their mum or dad dies, because their parents lived together but weren’t married. The courts have ruled this is wrong, but Government has failed to put it right. Ask your MP to speak up
🚨Please share this with your MP to ask them to help us give grieving orphans facing poverty a voice! 🚨
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Memory jars filled with coloured salt can help children and young people to remember important things about the person who died. Download our instructions to create a memory jar with a grieving child 👉
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Today we are launching the Winston’s Wish Crisis Messenger text service offering free, 24/7 support for bereaved young people who need urgent help. Just text WW to 85258. Save this number for when you might need it.
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We're delighted to be able to offer FREE online bereavement training for schools. We know that teachers and staff are looking for guidance on supporting their grieving pupils, both while schools are closed and when they reopen. Find out more here 👉
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We're incredibly thankful to @rioferdy5 for shining the light on such an important issue #BeingMumandDad.
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Grief doesn’t go away, it doesn’t grow smaller over time. Instead we grow larger around our grief. Some days grief consumes you, but on other days you have space for other things. This is how we explain grief to children and young people 👉
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Thanks to @BBCBreakfast for having us on the show this morning to talk about the impact of childhood bereavement. Find out more about the support we offer schools here
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At 5:40pm today, a new drama starts on Cbeebies called Molly and Mack. The first episode tackles childhood bereavement - we'd recommend watching it. Thank you to @CBeebiesHQ for normalising conversations about grief.
BRAND NEW family drama #MollyandMack starts today. You may wish to watch the first episode with your children, as it tackles discussing the death of a parent. @BBCiPlayer . @CruseScotland. #MollyAndMack
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@SimonThomasSky Hi @SimonThomasSky, she can call our Freephone National Helpline on 08088 020 021. We can talk through her situation, offering advice and guidance on the best ways to support her daughter.
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Often we don’t know what to say to a bereaved child, but remember that the worst has already happened – you can’t make it worse. A simple "I’m sorry to hear about your mum" from a teacher will make the world of difference to a pupil. Advice for schools👉
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Children and young people support by @winstonswish #rememberwhen in this new video to launch #childrensgriefawarenessweek. Please watch and share to raise awareness of such an important topic.
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For thousands of children, their summer holiday stories will be in stark contrast to those of their friends. They need support. Find out more > #HopeAfterSuicide #WSPD
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Today, we’re delighted to launch a fresh new look for Winston’s Wish. We’ve matured as an organisation over the past 25 years and our new brand sees us embark on an ambitious journey to double the number of bereaved children and young people that we support.
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Memory jars can help children and young people to remember the person who died. The colours represent different memories – maybe their favourite football team, something you used to do together, their favourite meal…❤️⠀.⠀.Download the instructions 👉
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@DMJConsult23 @romankemp Thank you! @romankemp we're a charity supporting grieving children and young people (up to 25) after someone important has died.
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We're offering FREE online bereavement training to help teachers, school staff and other professionals provide vital support to bereaved children and young people. Find out more here 👉
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📖 We're thrilled to launch our new book 'Never Too Young To Grieve', designed for parents, carers, childcare professionals and other adults supporting children up to the age of 5 who have experienced the death of a parent or carer.
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Memory jars can help children and young people to remember important things about the person who died. The different colours represent different memories and gives you the opportunity to talk about them together. ❤️⠀. Download the instructions 👉
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Today, we release our new report with @CamEdFac showing how teachers feel ill-equipped to support bereaved children and that schools urgently need to develop a bereavement policy. Read the full report here 👉 #schoolbereavementsupport
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We're delighted to launch our new book, We All Grieve, the first SEND specialist bereavement book for parents and professionals. Packed with information and activities to help those supporting bereaved children with SEND 👉
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Memory Jars are a useful resource for children to manage their difficult feelings following bereavement #BeingMumAndDad
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Our activity book, Muddles, Puddles and Sunshine, offers invaluable practical and sensitive support for younger bereaved children with activities to help them makes sense of their feelings. Order here 👉
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All too often bereaved children feel very alone. We're proud to support #ChildrensGriefAwareness week for children to know they're not alone
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On average, 1 in every 29 children will be bereaved of a parent. It’s vital that schools have a bereavement policy and understand how to support grieving students, especially now. You'll find a guide and example bereavement policy on our website 👉
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Thank you to Princes William &Harry for generously sharing their story.A precious gift to others rebuilding their lives after a death #diana.
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@ChayneDaisy @drkathrynmannix We have a range of books, resources and articles to help children understand death and grief. Head on over to or call our helpline anytime between 8am and 8pm on 08088 020 021.
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With the news today of the death of presenter #RachaelBland, we wanted to put together some tips for anybody who is preparing a child for loss. If you need support our team are here to help. You can call our Freephone National Helpline on 08088 020 021.
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It’s #ChildrensGriefAwarenessWeek .👧🏼👦🏽😢🎗📆. Many children are left #LostForWords by death. That’s why we have helped create a book of advice in words and emojis by and for bereaved children. It’s launches next week but here’s quick look at the front cover.
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If your dad or father figure has died, then Father's Day can be tough. We asked six young people who are all grieving for their dad, what they do on Father's Day and their advice to others. Here's what they said 👉
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Today, take time to reflect on those who have died and show support to those who are grieving as part of the National #DayOfReflection. ❤️12pm National minute’s silence .🕯️8pm Shine a light from your window .💬Reach out to someone who is grieving
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1 in 29 children are bereaved of a parent. Yet many teachers receive no bereavement training and are unsure how to support grieving pupils. Download our bereavement policy template so everyone knows what to do when there's a death in your school 👉
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@eddysmam We're so sorry to hear this 💔 If you need any guidance on how to support her, we have lots of resources on our website and our Helpline team can offer specific advice - call 08088 020 021, email ask@winstonswish.org and visit
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A powerful start to Grief Conversations on @BBCRadio2 listening to our Ambassador @GaryScribbler talk about the death of his wife Joy and his and his children's grief, and Gary's illustration of how Hannah pictures her grief ❤️.
As part of Radio 2's Grief Conversations, Hannah described what grief looks like in her mind and @GaryScribbler illustrated her words...Hear Gary talk to @drchatterjeeuk on Good Morning Sunday by heading to @BBCSounds:
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Meet Harvey. Both of Harvey's parents died before he was 5 years old. Tonight he courageously shares his story on @ITV @itvnews Tune in from 7pm. No child should ever grieve alone. #NoChildGrievesAlone
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Our thoughts are with all those affected by #Manchester events - we are here. Call our Helpline & we'll do everything we can to support you
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How to talk to children about the death of The Queen: . 1. Use clear, appropriate language.2. Explain what death is.3. Reassure your child.4. Be honest.5. Let them ask questions.6. Let them know their feelings are normal.7. Keep an eye on how they react. #Grief #QueenElizabeth
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Our activity book, Muddles, Puddles and Sunshine, offers invaluable practical and sensitive support for younger bereaved children with activities to help them makes sense of their feelings. Order here 👉
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There is currently no government-led national bereavement policy, leaving teachers feeling ill-equipped to supported bereaved children in their classroom. We've created free resources for schools available to download here 👉 #schoolbereavementsupport
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Q. How many bereaved children are there in the UK?.A. Nobody knows. Astonishingly there is no official data on childhood bereavement. If we don’t know how many, and where these bereaved children are, we fail them to reach them. 🧵1/2
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Grace, whose dad died when she was eight, shares her advice for other children and young people who are grieving. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable and tell people how you are feeling - they will want to help you ❤️ .#grief #MondayMotivation
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"There is no government-led national bereavement policy for schools despite the equivalent of every classroom in the UK containing at least one child who has lost a parent or sibling" Thanks to @GuardianEdu for helping us to highlight this important issue
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@drkathrynmannix @LittleMsCalm @alansteinoxford @cbukhelp It's ok to use the words ‘died’ and ‘dead’ rather than ‘passed away’ or ‘lost’ when speaking with children. These terms can lead to confusion, especially in younger children who may wonder if they can go and find a person who is now ‘lost’.
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When a young person you know has experienced a bereavement, it can be difficult to know what to say. It’s natural to want to comfort them, but sometimes common condolences can actually be upsetting. So, we’ve created a list of dos and don’ts 👉 .#CGAW22
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If you want to support Winston's Wish and bereaved children, please donate here:
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A child under 5 won't understand the finality of death, whereas a teenager will realise what a death will mean for them and their lives. Here's our guide to what children understand at different ages and how you can support them 👉
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We support bereaved children so that they can face the future with confidence and hope #akillinginmyfamily
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📰 | A child's grief: you have to acknowledge that something's happened. A really important article to mark Children's Grief Awareness Week about the importance of not ignoring what has happened.
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This is really important from @YoungMindsUK. We know from working with children and young people the impact bereavement can have on their wellbeing in school. Please take one minute to sign. 👇🏻.
We've launched an open letter to Ofsted, asking them to focus more on wellbeing in our schools. Mental health should not be considered less important than grades. Sign our open letter: #WiseUpWellbeing
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From talking to children and young people about coronavirus to what to do if they can't attend the funeral of a loved one, you'll find lots of advice and guidance around coronavirus on our website 👉
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We've been sent this article by a bereaved dad who received support from us. It's an incredibly touching story that will no doubt resonate with parents bereaved of a spouse.
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A very special message from the Kitchen Disco Queen herself, @SophieEB ! 🕺💿🪩 . Our #30DaysOfDisco Challenge is in full swing as part of our 30th Birthday celebrations and we'd love you to get involved. Sign up today 👉
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#FathersDay is a difficult time for children and young people whose dad has died. This year, lockdown restrictions means they might not be able to mark the day in the way they want. Our team offer some alternative ideas and advice on supporting them 👉
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“Death neither obeys the school timetable nor appears on it…it enters the classroom without knocking.”. We offer valuable support for the school community, helping teachers and professionals to support pupils who have been bereaved.
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On average 1 in every 29 children will be bereaved of a parent. Yet many teachers receive no bereavement training and are unsure how to support grieving pupils. Download our school bereavement policy template to ensure everyone knows what to do 👉
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We are thrilled to announce that Bill Bailey's recent charity fundraiser in Cheltenham raised an incredible £45,856.48 for Winston’s Wish!. Read more about the event and watch the exclusive interview with Bill by Youth Team member Angus. 👉 @BillBailey
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If children are asking questions, it's a good thing, it shows trust & it's better than keeping questions & worries to themselves #Manchester.
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Our Freephone National Helpline is operating with extended hours tonight forthe broadcast of #akillinginmyfamily
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Happy Mother's Day to all the mums in the world, including those we remember.
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More than 100 children are bereaved of a parent every single day in the UK. We must talk honestly about death. #BeingMumAndDad.
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What is grief? . For Children's Grief Awareness week (which starts today), we asked young people with experience of grief to answer this question. Their range of answers shows just how different grief is for everyone. What is grief to you?.#CGAW22
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Written by teachers and bereavement experts and awarded the Quality Mark by @PSHEassociation, our new PSHE lessons and resources for Key Stages 1-4 are designed to help you talk about bereavement and loss with your pupils .Download for free 👉
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Does your school have a bereavement policy? Download our new example policy and template to help you create one and ensure that your pupils and staff get the support they need 👉
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Bereavement can have a serious impact on a young person’s mental health - we must encourage them to talk openly #WorldMentalHealthDay.
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On average, 1 in every 29 children will be bereaved of a parent. It’s vital that schools have a bereavement policy and understand how to support grieving students, especially now. You'll find a guide and example bereavement policy on our website 👉
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Our activity book, Muddles, Puddles and Sunshine, offers invaluable practical and sensitive support for younger bereaved children with activities to help them makes sense of their feelings. Order here 👉
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Our @bbc5live programme featuring our families, staff, @jenniemcalpine and @missingdaddy will be aired this Thursday at 10:30am.
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Grieving young people often tell us that they can feel forgotten. So, this #RandomActsOfKindnessDay let a grieving young person know you are thinking of them. Write a note or card just for them or send a text. It will mean a lot to them.
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Written by teachers and bereavement experts and awarded the Quality Mark by @PSHEassociation, our new PSHE lessons and resources for Key Stages 1-4 are designed to help you talk about bereavement and loss with your pupils .Download for free 👉
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Has your child become more clingy and anxious since going into lockdown? Or are you worried about your child’s separation anxiety resurfacing once they start returning to school and ‘normal life’? Our team has some guidance on how you can help them 👉
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Returning to school after someone in your family has died can be difficult. Here's our guidance for young people on when to return, how to talk to your friends and how to get support at school 👉 #BackToSchool
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It is important to give children and young people the opportunity to talk about death and their grief, with positive impacts on their mental health. #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek .
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*Warning: you may find this video upsetting*.We provide specialist support to children and young people who have been bereaved by suicide because there absolutely IS #HopeAfterSuicide . #WorldMentalHealthDay #40SECONDS
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This video is really touching. Hearing Samuel talk about the death of his Dad to other children can be heartbreaking, but a huge well done to him for speaking about his situation so openly and honestly with his peers. #slo5yo.
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When your mum has died, Mother’s Day can be a difficult day. From avoiding social media to doing things that remind them of their mum, grieving young people share what they do on Mother’s Day and their advice to others 👉 .#MothersDay #grief
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Memory jars can help children and young people to remember the person who died. The colours represent different memories – maybe their favourite football team, something you used to do together, their favourite meal…❤️⠀.⠀.Download the instructions 👉
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It is so important to have stories like those told in #sayinggoodbye in the public eye. The more we talk about bereavement, the less of a taboo death will be in our society.
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There is currently no government-led national bereavement policy, leaving teachers feeling ill-equipped to supported bereaved children in their classroom. We've created free resources for schools available to download here 👉 #schoolbereavementsupport
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It can be difficult for young people to make sense of their grief. Our #Help2MakeSense 🎥 explores the difficult situations they can face.
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As children across the UK return to school today after the summer holidays, it can be especially difficult for those who have been bereaved. That's why we're launching #BackToSchoolSept - to raise awareness of the difficult situations facing bereaved children in schools.
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Have you been dreading Father's Day without your dad? You're not alone, but Grace, Zoe and Emily, who all lost their dads when they were children, share their advice for coping with #FathersDay after your dad has died.
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If you’re collecting your #GCSEResults and you’re grieving, it’s okay to feel:. · Sad your person isn’t there.· Angry you’re doing this without them.· Happy with your results.· Proud of yourself.· Guilty for celebrating.· Lonely without them to talk to.· Numb. #GCSEResults2023.
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Explaining to a child that someone has died by suicide is possibly one of the most difficult situations that you might ever face. Our specialist book offers practical advice and child-friendly activities for families after a death by suicide 👉
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From 'the five stages of grief' to the idea that you should be crying all the time, there are a number of misconceptions about grief. Here are 12 things everyone should know about grief 👉
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In 1992, we were founded by Julie Stokes with a passionate belief in children and that if you brought people with similar experiences together, it would be transformative. Since then, we have pioneered bereavement support for children and young people in the UK.
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Not every young person gets the help they need when someone has died. That’s not good enough!. Winston’s Wish is assembling a Youth Team of 13-25 year olds to help us change the future for other grieving young people in the UK. Want in? Or know someone who does?
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Grief doesn’t go away, it doesn’t grow smaller – instead we grow around our grief. To begin with, grief feels as if it takes up all of us but, in time, we have space for other feelings and experiences. Our grief hasn’t shrunk but we have grown around it.
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